FOR FREE ADVICE FREEPHONE
0800 028 2837 AND DISCUSS YOUR SITUATION IN CONFIDENCE WITH ONE OF OUR EXPERIENCED PROBATE ADMINISTRATORS
Welcome to the Probate Bureau Ltd
The Probate Bureau Ltd is a dedicated probate administration company with years of experience.
We offer FREE advice on all probate matters over the telephone. By asking simple questions, our friendly staff can quickly establish whether probate is required in your situation. We are able to advise you who can apply for probate and when to apply; we can confirm which probate forms are to be completed and give you an indication of how long the probate process takes. Our team are also able to give you details regarding The Probate Registry offices.
Call us today to discuss your probate questions.
Please note: We comply with the Solicitors Introduction and Referral Code published by the Law Society, and any solicitor to whom we may refer you is an independent professional from whom you will receive impartial and confidential advice. You are free to choose another solicitor.
WHAT IS PROBATE
We speak to many people who are very confused about probate. Dealing with legal and financial paperwork at such an emotional time can be daunting. Even in the simplest estates there is a surprisingly large amount of correspondence with various institutions such as the Inland Revenue, the Department for Work and Pensions and The Principal Probate Registry Office to name just a few.
Our aim in the next few paragraphs is to explain in plain English what probate is and whether it is actually required in your situation:
a) What is Probate
IF THERE IS A WILL:
It is necessary to obtain a legal document (called a Grant of Probate) that allows an executor to distribute assets as detailed in a person's will.
IF THERE IS NO WILL (INTESTACY):
It is necessary to obtain a legal document (called Letters of Administration) that allows the next of kin to distribute assets in accordance with the Laws of Intestacy.
IN A NUTSHELL; PROBATE IS A LEGAL WAY OF DISTRIBUTING A PERSON'S ASSETS ON DEATH.
There are specific situations that dictate whether an executor needs to obtain probate. Generally probate is not required for estates where assets in sole name are under £5000. However some institutions may insist on a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration to release any asset.
DO I NEED PROBATE?
In order to quickly establish whether probate is required in your situation you can call our Freephone number 0800 028 2837 and talk directly to one of our administrators who can advise you, without charge, how to proceed. We are also able to arrange a free appointment with our Managing Director at your home in order to assess your particular situation. During this visit you will be advised how to proceed on your own should you feel able to, or we can give you an all inclusive price for the Probate Bureau Ltd to administer the estate on your behalf. This price is not an hourly rate, but a total price to deal with all aspects of the estate. There are no deposits and our fee is payable from the estate at the end of administration, which ensures that we will not delay in our administration. We will then take away all relevant documents and begin correspondence, providing you with regular updates until we are have finalised all aspects of the estate administration.
"I hope you find this website useful, I welcome any queries you may have. " David West Managing Director
DUTIES OF EXECUTORS
PLEASE NOTE THAT AFTER REGISTERING THE DEATH AND ARRANGING THE FUNERAL, THE PROBATE BUREAU CAN ACT ON BEHALF OF THE EXECUTORS IN ALL OTHER MATTERS.
1. Register the death. Obtain copies of the death certificate – the exact number will depend on how many assets need to be released or transferred (e.g. bank accounts, insurance policies, shares and other equities.) Many organisations will need sight of an original Death Certificate before releasing funds. Copies obtained from the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages are regarded as 'originals' as opposed to a photocopy of the certificate.
2. Arrange the funeral. The cost will usually be the first expense paid for from the Deceased's estate. Most banks and building societies will pay the funeral bill before probate is granted. Make enquiries about the existence of a prepaid funeral plan - these are becoming increasingly popular amongst retired people wishing to guard against the effects of inflation. If an individual does decide to purchase a funeral plan Executors should be informed immediately and given the location of the relevant documents.
3. Apply for a Grant of Probate – forms are available from the nearest Principle Probate Registry (contact us for relevant telephone numbers).
3.1 Open a Personal Representative's bank account. This will be used for the receipt of money due to the Estate and any loan arranged to pay an Inheritance Tax bill and/or probate fees.
3.2 Inform all relevant persons and organisations - banks, building societies, life assurance companies, employers, local authorities, Inland Revenue, benefit agencies etc.
3.3 Valuation of the Estate. This will include the house and its contents, other personal effects, investments in savings plans, equities, life policies, building societies etc. Draw up a detailed schedule of all the Deceased's assets.
3.4 Draw up a full schedule of debts that must be paid from the proceeds of the Estate. These will include mortgages, income and capital gains taxes, bills, credit cards, loans and overdrafts.
3.5 Complete the forms required by the Inland Revenue Capital Taxes Office so that it can be established whether any Inheritance Tax is due.
3.6 Complete the probate forms and send or take them to the Probate Office along with the original Will, the death certificate and the Inland Revenue account.
SUBSEQUENT DUTIES
1. Provided that the case is fairly straightforward, an appointment will be made for the personal representative to 'swear the papers' within about 5 - 6 weeks of receipt at the Probate Office
2. When Inheritance Tax is due the Executor's account of the Estate is passed to the Inland Revenue and the Grant of Probate cannot be issued until the tax is paid. There will be circumstances where part of the Estate has to be sold to pay Inheritance Tax and if this is the case banks can arrange loan facilities to pay the tax straight away. Please note: There are occasions where Inheritance Tax can be mitigated. This is a highly specialised field of legal and financial expertise, contact us for guidance if an estate is over £285,000 (Inheritance tax threshold for tax year 2006)
3. Copies of the Grant of Probate should be sent to everyone who owes money to the Estate. The Executors now have a legal authority to pursue any debts owing to the Estate.
4. When the Grant of Probate is received, the Estate can be divided according to the terms of the Will. The Executor must prepare and sign accounts showing who has received what from the distribution. They must be able to show that they acted in accordance with the terms of the Will in case there is any dissent from the family of the deceased.
5. All papers, including the Grant of Probate and the accounts must be stored safely for a period of 12 years.
WILLS
The Probate Bureau has an integrated Will writing department which professionally drafts Wills to a very high standard. Thousands of pounds can be saved through the proper drafting of a Will; it is arguably the most important document you will ever have.
PLEASE CALL AND TALK TO ONE OF OUR EXPERIENCED WILL WRITERS ABOUT
MAKING OR UPDATING YOUR WILL
FREEPHONE 0800 028 2837
If no Will is made then the deceased’s estate is distributed as per The Rules of Intestacy. Please follow the icons to see how this will affect your particular circumstances.
Furthermore, if you have any questions (even with an existing will) regarding
Trusts are a highly complex subject. It is vital to have proper legal and financial advice before setting up or exercising a Trust. Trusts can ‘stand alone’ or be included in a Will. Many people fall into the trap of purchasing stand alone Trusts costing thousands of pounds when a simple Trust in a Will can do the same job for a fraction of the price. If you have ever considered setting up a Trust to help save on tax, or to protect a beneficiary from any form of loss, then please contact us to discuss your options.
COMPANY PROFILE
It is hardly surprising, given the complexity of administering an estate, that many people seek help. The normal avenue would be to visit a local bank or solicitor, however, The Probate Bureau was specifically formed to address two popular concerns regarding the legal work involved:
How much will it cost?
How long will it take?
Solicitors (including those employed by banks) typically charge a percentage of the deceased's estate plus an hourly rate, plus disbursements. They will not be able to quote you a final figure until the job is finished, therefore the two mentioned concerns will always remain open ended!
The Probate Bureau has addressed this concern by liaising with professionals (solicitors, accountants and financial advisors) at predetermined discounted rates whilst handling the time consuming administrative chores in office at a fixed fee or percentage and no hourly rate. This can save considerable expense in administering an estate.
The Probate Bureau therefore can offer:
Free guidance (at home if required) for those wishing to handle the paperwork themselves.
A solicitor backed service without charging an hourly rate.
A set fee structure.
Discounted links to other professional services.
The best advice anyone can be given is to DO NOTHING until the situation has been fully assessed; one or two days delay will make little difference in the general scheme of things.
We can help you assess the situation at your convenience and at no initial cost to you or the estate.
In essence, The Probate Bureau dovetails the legal and financial aspects of probate in an ethical, professional and sensitive way.
WE CAN EASE THE BURDEN.
CONTACT US
Head office
The Probate Bureau Ltd
3 Crane Mead Business Park
Crane Mead
Ware
Hertfordshire
SG12 9PZ
This price is not an hourly rate, but a total price to deal with all aspects of the estate. There are no deposits and our fee is payable from the estate at the end of administration, which ensures that we will not delay in our administration. We will then take away all relevant documents and begin correspondence, providing you with regular updates until we are have finalised all aspects of the estate administration.